Principal AI and Decision Engineer

MITRE; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 191,000 - 287,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE, a nonprofit engineering and R&D organization, seeks a Principal Artificial Intelligence and Decision Engineer to lead interdisciplinary teams and advance AI-enabled decision systems. You will apply ML, DL, RL, and LLM techniques to mission-critical challenges, mentor staff, and drive R&D opportunities across national security and public-interest domains.

Role requires deep expertise, excellent communication, and eligibility for a Top Secret clearance, with a minimum onsite presence of

Qualifications

• 10+ years in AI with related education or equivalent experience.
• Hands-on ML across deep learning, reinforcement learning, and AI areas like LLMs/agentic AI.
• Ability to explain high-stakes AI challenges and identify gaps.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and project leadership on cross-functional teams for AI-enabled decision systems.
• Develop decision-support prototypes using modern AI techniques aligned to workflows.
• Propose and execute cutting-edge research in AI-enhanced decision systems.
• Evaluate AI solutions against sponsor requirements and provide actionable recommendations.
• Lead projects and teams to solve complex decision problems for sponsors.
• Communicate complex ideas to technical and non-technical audiences via briefs or papers.

Skills

AI/ML leadership

Deep learning

Reinforcement learning

LLMs / Generative AI

Decision making

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Master’s degree in a relevant field

PhD (with relevant experience)

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

Department Summary:

Our AI-enhanced Insights and Decisions department has a need for a Principal Artificial Intelligence and Decision Engineer with a passion for artificial intelligence (AI) and expertise in algorithms and decision making. We are specifically looking for talent in machine learning (including deep learning and reinforcement learning), and one or more of the following technical areas: large language models (LLM), generative and agentic AI, decision science, human-centered AI, human-machine teaming, cognitive science, AI testing and evaluation, multi-agent systems, knowledge-based reasoning, automated planning, semantics, and ontologies.

As an Artificial Intelligence and Decision Engineer, you will have opportunities to work on a wide range of problems, working in interdisciplinary teams. Your experience will allow you to:

• Apply large language models to sponsors’ decision making and problem-solving challenges.
• Design, develop, evaluate, and field AI solutions that inform consequential, mission-critical decisions.
• Identify and lead new R&D opportunities to strengthen the nation’s growing artificial intelligence capabilities.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Provide technical and project leadership on cross-functional teams developing and implementing AI-enhanced decision systems, including capabilities that leverage large language model technology.
• Apply modern AI and engineering techniques to develop decision support software prototypes based on analysis of workflow and operational needs.
• Propose and execute novel, cutting-edge research in AI-enhanced decision systems.
• Evaluate AI solutions against sponsor requirements and produce actionable recommendations.
• Lead projects and teams to solve complex decision problems for our sponsors.
• Convey complex ideas to technical and non-technical audiences through briefings and/or white papers.
• Lead, mentor, and collaborate with technical staff

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of experience in artificial intelligence with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of AI-related education and work experience.
• Hands-on experience with machine learning (including deep learning and reinforcement learning), and one or more of the following technical areas: large language models (LLM), generative and agentic AI, decision science, human-centered AI, human-machine teaming, cognitive science, AI testing and evaluation, multi-agent systems, knowledge-based reasoning, automated planning, semantics, and ontologies.
• Ability to articulate challenges in high-stakes decision making with AI and identify gaps.
• A keen interest in learning about and rapidly responding to new problems across a variety of domains.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate challenging technical concepts to both lay and expert audiences.
• Ability to work independently to learn new technologies, techniques, processes, languages, platforms, and systems.
• Proven ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and engage senior mission stakeholders across technical and operational domains.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 3 days per week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in computer science, engineering, or related disciplines.
• Track record of successful deployment of AI/ML decision support systems or components that have been used by customers or stakeholders outside of a lab/experimental setting.
• Experience leading teams of 10 or more to solve complex technical challenges.
• Experience with testing and evaluation of AI systems.
• Active DoD Secret clearance.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$191,200 - $239,000 - $286,800 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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